SCOUTING; No Experience Necessary

Preparing for his first season as head football coach at Columbia, Jim Garrett assessed the squad he inherited and decided it needed help -quickly. Last season, the Lions went 0-9, the final touch on a 4-43-2 coaching record over five seasons for Bob Naso.

''I want to win right away, not start some four-year rebuilding program,'' said the former assistant coach of the Cleveland Browns. ''Our big weakness is a shortage of linemen. I fantasized a group of 6-3, 250-pound boys whose parents sent them to Columbia to concentrate on books who now had their academics under control. I wanted to offer an open-door policy to anyone like that who might hesitate to walk into the football office.''

So Garrett spent $80 for an advertisement in the Columbia Spectator, the student newspaper, inviting anyone interested in playing college football to try out. ''I emphasized that no experience was necessary,'' said Garrett.

The ad produced 25 candidates, 11 of whom withdrew after learning what to expect at training camp. ''Most of them realized that they didn't really have the physical skills needed to compete for a position,'' said Garrett. ''They weren't big or fast enough to justify taking time off from academics.''

But he expects 14 at camp on Aug. 27, and said, ''I think four can become players, and one shows real promise. Christos Monovoukas, a junior from Cyprus, is 6-2, 210, and looks like he might make a good tight end.'' Monovoukas played junior varsity basketball as a freshman.

Garrett said he had also spoken to 20 to 25 players who had quit the Lions' football team but assured him that they would return.